FILM REVIEW: Still Human2 min read
Reading Time: 2 minutes
A paralysed and hopeless divorcee, Cheong-wing is in need of a caretaker. He meets his new live-in Filipino domestic helper, Evelyn, who has put her dream on hold in order to come to Hong Kong for the sake of earning a living. Living under the same roof, these two strangers develop an unlikely relationship.
Director: Oliver Chan Siu Kuen
Year: 2018
Cast: Anthony Wong, Crisel Consunji, Sam Lee, Himmy Wong Tim Him, Cecilia Yip
Language: Cantonese, Tagalog, English
Runtime: 112min
Rating: NC16
Review by Jean Wong
What does it really mean to be human? Is there something that binds us all together despite our differences, or do they set us apart? Still Human (2018) fearlessly follows two unlikely misfits in their search for the answers to these questions.
Beautiful and moving all at once, Still Human is a great blend of a compelling story, wonderful direction and amazing acting that brings to the fore the universal experience of being human.
The film opens with an emphasis that Evelyn (Crisel Consunji) and Cheong-wing (Anthony Wong) are from different worlds. Evelyn is a youthful and vivacious Filipino migrant, while Cheong-wing is a paralysed elderly man from Hong Kong. With a language barrier between them, it seems unlikely that a close friendship would blossom between the two. But blossom it does — and so begins the moving story that makes up Still Human.
A veteran actor, Wong skillfully plays the part of a disabled and hopeless old man. Consunji delivers an equally stunning performance alongside him despite being new to the field. The great chemistry between the two translates well on screen, as Evelyn begins to chase her photography dreams and Cheong-wing, watching her, starts to believe in himself as well.
Director Oliver Chan brings across the theme well with beautiful ethereal shots of the sky that seems to call back to the idea of dreams. Her great direction in the film allows viewers to empathise easily with the protagonists, as they face the ups and downs of their lives.
Underneath the stunning visuals, this film is a simple but powerful story of two misfits who once believed their dreams were impossible. As the opening film of Singapore Chinese Film Festival (SCFF), Still Human reminds us that regardless of the time and place, language and age, having dreams is the universal human experience.
About Singapore Chinese Film Festival
Co-organised by the Singapore Film Society and Singapore University of Social Sciences, the Singapore Chinese Film Festival (SCFF) seeks to cultivate an appreciation of independent Chinese cinema. With works from documentaries to shorts to full-length feature films, SCFF showcases the diversity of cultures and languages explored by Chinese filmmakers.
